5 wrestlers who became UFC champions

UFC 241 Cormier vs Miocic 2
UFC 241 Cormier vs Miocic 2

#4 Jon Jones

UFC 247 Jones vs Reyes
UFC 247 Jones vs Reyes

Jon Jones is a former two-time UFC light heavyweight champion and currently the no.1 UFC pound-for-pound fighter. At the age of 23, he became the youngest champion in the history of the UFC. 'Bones' holds many UFC records in the light heavyweight division, including the most wins, most title defenses and the longest winning streak.

He is widely considered one of the best MMA fighters of all time owing, to his ever-evolving game and extremely high fight IQ. While not as decorated as the other fighters on this list, Jon Jones was essentially a wrestler before he started competing in MMA. He has used his wrestling fundamentals to evolve into one of the most complete MMA fighters ever.

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Jon Jones started wrestling at a young age. Before starting his MMA career, he won several championships in amateur wrestling. He won the New York State Championship in high school and the NJCAA All-American.

With his wrestling, 'Bones' has given a tough time to world-class wrestlers in the UFC. His takedowns against the likes of Chael Sonnen and Ovince Saint Preux, along with his takedown defense against Olympian wrestler Daniel Cormier speak volumes about his wrestling prowess.

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#3 Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington
Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington

Kamaru Usman is the #2-ranked UFC pound-for-pound fighter and rightly so. He is currently on an 18-fight winning streak (14 in the UFC), and is one of the most active fighters in the promotion. 'The Nigerian Nightmare' is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC, and only has his wrestling fundamentals to thank for that.

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Usman started wrestling early in high school, and compiled a 53-3 record on his way to winning the Texas State Championship. He joined the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and helped their team win its first-ever wrestling title in 2008. He made it to the top 3 in each of his three years in college, becoming a two-time national finalist.

In 2010, Kamaru Usman won the NCAA Division II national championship, finishing with a 44-1 record and 30 straight wins. He then tried for the Olympics, and despite making the 2012 Olympic team, fell short of his dream due to untimely injuries.

Switching to a career in MMA, Usman came into his ow,n and is now considered one of the most complete fighters in the UFC. He averages 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes. The welterweight champion has never been taken down in the UFC, and holds the record for having a 100% takedown defense.

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Edited by Bhargav
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